F1 TV bundled with Apple TV in US under Apple’s 2026 broadcast deal

Apple’s five-year U.S. broadcast deal will make Apple TV the exclusive home for Formula 1 in 2026, and Apple says an Apple TV subscription will include F1 TV Premium access in the United States.

The agreement, announced in October 2025, replaces ESPN as F1’s U.S. partner and gives Apple TV streaming rights to all practice sessions, qualifying, sprints and Grands Prix starting in 2026, the Associated Press reported.

Apple signaled the change in a company statement and through briefings that F1 TV will remain available to U.S. fans only via Apple TV, rather than as a standalone U.S. product. How-To-Geek noted that F1 TV Premium — which previously cost $16.99 per month or $129.99 per year — will be included with an Apple TV subscription for U.S. subscribers.

An anonymous living room with a large TV showing a blurred racing feed; an unbranded streaming interface on screen and a remote on a coffee table

Industry guides and motorsport outlets laid out how the integration will work: Apple TV subscribers will get the full F1 schedule live and on demand, and Apple said select races and all practice sessions will be free to watch inside the Apple TV app, while F1 TV Premium features will be provided to subscribers at no extra cost, Motorsport.com reported.

Apple’s senior vice president of Services, Eddy Cue, was quoted explaining plans for multilingual audio and accessibility features, and Formula 1’s CEO Stefano Domenicali commented on the partnership’s potential to grow the sport in the U.S., according to the coverage of the original press release.

Anonymous close-up of a race helmet on a shelf beside a generic streaming box, no logos visible

What this means for U.S. subscribers

Practical changes for U.S. fans include needing an Apple TV subscription to get F1 TV Premium features instead of purchasing F1 TV directly. Motorsport.com reported current Apple TV pricing at $12.99 per month or $99 per year as of the announcement; that subscription level will carry the F1 TV inclusion for U.S. customers.

Apple said more production and product details would be shared in the months leading to the 2026 season, including device compatibility and how on-demand replays and multiple camera feeds will be offered.

For business watchers, the move underscores broadcasters’ broader pivot to streaming — a trend that has put pressure on traditional pay-TV, which has been losing subscribers in the U.S., according to a recent industry report.

Sources

AP News — reported the five-year exclusive U.S. broadcast deal and that Apple replaces ESPN starting in 2026.
How-To-Geek — explained that F1 TV Premium will be included with an Apple TV subscription in the U.S. and noted prior F1 TV pricing.
Motorsport.com — outlined device compatibility, Apple TV subscription price points and that select races and practice sessions will be free in the Apple TV app.
Cable TV losing subscribers, report says — contextualized the rights shift as part of a wider streaming trend affecting traditional pay-TV.

About the author, Chris Martin

Chris Martin is a US economics and current affairs journalist covering the intersection of policy, markets, and everyday financial life. With a background in financial reporting and a sharp eye for the stories behind the numbers, Chris brings clarity to some of the most complex issues shaping the American economy today. At ECIKS.org, Chris covers breaking developments across domestic economic policy, business strategy, Wall Street movements, and political decisions that ripple through financial markets. His reporting blends rigorous data analysis with accessible storytelling making critical information useful for investors, entrepreneurs, and engaged citizens alike.